hours of Reagan's strike against Libya. It was the biggest and most rapid explosion of protest at an American or British action in living memory.
The protests were significant in two respects. They were rapid and large - especially given the time available to respond. There were protests in nearly all major cities on Tuesday evening. Saturday's London demonstration was a remarkable outburst. Over 10,000 people spontaneously combined, on CND's initiative, in a highly militant demonstraSecond, the political response represents one of the biggest potential breakthroughs for the left which Britain has seen since Suez. A clear, broad mass current has emerged which wants all US bases out of Britain and wants to end the forty-year partnership between the British and American states which has served as one of the cornerstones of imperialist rule from 1945 onwards. How did this action develop?
In London, by Tues paigns. Round the railings day 0O0N crowds of Grosvenor Square proalready gathered outside minant large photographs US embassy of a Libyan child killed in Downing Street. Several the raid read 'Is this child a hundred mounted a vigil at terrorist?' Placards readnumber 10 by torchlight ing is the real and there were arrests as madman', 'US bases out, police waded in. "Thatcher is the real conThat same night 27 spirator were everywhere. peace organisations met in the At the rally afterwards House of Commons to Benn summed up this form 'Campaign mood two Weagainst the War' as CND pplauded points "There leaflets flooded out sum- wil vill be no peace in th bring up transport to conduct mass arrests, so clearly decided to clear the peaceful demonstrators by witnesses saw police haul LUL CO alone. Shocked protestors out by their hair, ears or necks, kicking and punching them to try and intimidate them out ot rejoining the protest.
At 5.30 the police then tried to move buses LIONS the traffic. The driver of the lead bus retused. on the grounds that the streets had not been cleared and it was a danger to public safety to drive forward. A police cab and drive the bus but could not work the controls. Then, demonstrators jeered, the driver got out, walked to the bonnet. disconnected the plugs and the fuel feed -and walked off.
More than 5000 people marched through the city on Saturday. The march was organised by Greater Manchester District CND and followed a successful pro test bv 500 on Tuesdar night, again organised by CND and anti-missile group banners dominated the demonstration with a smattering of Labour ParScenes of protest in London last Saturday 4.
this CHILD TERRORIST ? They marched again to the Welsh Office to hear speakers from the Labou Party, Plaid Cymru, CNI and the Communist Party Sheffield: by 4pm on Tuesday 300 people ha gathered outside Sheffiel Town Hall, on the initiative of women in the peace movement and Shef field CND. On Tuesda night the trades council executive endorsed the ac tion and backed a joint call for future vigils on Thursday and Friday, and calle a demonstration for Saturday with the District Hundreds came to -the • vigils and nearly a thou sand to the saturaay rall on the steps of the town hall. 2000 signatures had already been gathered for pennon Speakers cluded Bob Cryer MEP Richard Caborn MP David Blunkett Whitty, CND, America Solidarity Forum, and many others.
Nottingham: By Tuesday Ovel packed a hall built for 30 coming from CND, the CND called a vigil outside the Ministry of Defence which 200 people came to. The biggest Glasgow Gemon stration, called by Libera. tion and supported by the STUC and the Scottish through the city centre to: rally addressed by Labour Party ex. ecutive spokespeople. Bot Gillespie of SOGAT and the STUC executive said that SOGAT was sending a moon to me us an that the labour movemen should have responde more strongly to the invasion of Grenada as 1 now learned to its cost Birmingham: 20-25 pro testors gathered in the Bull Ring at midday larger around 4.30 in front of the town hall. The first was called by CND and the se cond mainly attended by trade union and Labour aCVSES. WILE strong Pakistani conungent many Sparkbrook. CND held a separate protest at the same time because it did the demand 'Hands off Libya' raised by these protestors. coaches sa Saturday thres London had been filled and plans are afoot to set up a joint com. mittee on Tuesday.
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Britain: mass protest erupts MASS PROTEST erupted all over Britain within
tion which, at one point, successfully blocked off London's main shopping street for over two hours.
a on test mers a tet up following daying ter